Founders, Ask Yourselves at Night: What Would Be Different Without Your Company?

Originally published 2020-12-16Robin’s commentary

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Collected in Robin Shen’s Field Notes · Content type and attribution are shown above

English translation of the Chinese post originally published 2020-12-16. Translated 2026-10-30 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文

Reading guide

Robin cites the idea that entrepreneurs should think like rocket scientists, emphasizing that the most worthwhile things are those no one else has done and that you can do. He suggests asking yourself late at night: is this venture worth focusing on for the next ten, twenty, or thirty years and pursuing to the highest standard? What change and value will it bring to the world? What would be different if this company did not exist?

Key points

The most worthwhile things are those no one else has done and that you can do.
Ask: is this worth ten, twenty, or thirty years of focused commitment?
Ask: what would be different without this company?

One clear path continues into the distance among several branching routes, suggesting choice and focus. — Entrepreneurship & strategyThematic illustration · AI generated

Full text — English translation

Entrepreneurs should think like rocket scientists. The material is offered for reference. Robin emphasizes: “The most worthwhile things for you to do are those no one else has done and that you can do.” Robin: “Late at night, entrepreneurs can ask themselves whether their current venture deserves the next ten, twenty, or thirty years of focused commitment to this one thing, taking it as far as possible and doing it to the highest standard. What change and value would that bring to the world?” Robin: “You should also be able to answer: what would be different if your company did not exist? Or would there actually be no difference, with everyone carrying on as usual?”

These articles are personal notes, book excerpts, and collected reprints. Figures and events reflect the time of the original publication, are not current information, and do not constitute investment advice.

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